Steering device for motor vehicles



- 1,638,750 1927' c. SCHAEFFER STEERING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Feb. 19. 1927 l N V EN TO R CHARLES 5(HAEFFEl-Z ATTORNEY Paiemee Aug. 9, 1927,

CHARLES scnnnrrnn, or rears, 'FRANCEfl STEERING nEvroEroR iv oron-vnmcnns.

Application filed. February 19,1927, Serial No. 169,581, at in France Mac 6, i926.

. According to customary practice, the steers ing. wheel formotor vehicles is disposed above the drivers legs, and for this reason, chiefly in the high-speed types of motor vehicle,'this reduces the fieldot' visionupon the road, and the resistanceto the travel of the vehicle is increased due to the portion of the steering wheel which extends above the Vehicle body. r v

The present invention relates to a'steering wheel which may be entirely contained 'in. the vehicle-body while at the same time it can be given a large diameten' The said steering wheel is unprovided with arms and consists of a large ring through which the drivers legs may be inserted; it is provided with a toothed ring which is guided in the vehicle bodyin suchmanner as to be properly rotatable, and the said toothed ring engages a pinionwhich controls the steering shaft, by an endless'screw or other means. i

The appended drawings show by Way of example an embodiment of the invention.

Fig. l is a side elevation ofthe vehicle,

7 with a part of the vehicle body removed to show the device. v

Fig. 2 is acorresponding plan view and Fig. 3 an end view. p 'Fig. 4t is a partial vertical section of the steering wheel on'a largerscale.

The driver is seated at the middle of th vehicle and his legs extend through the large ring 1 which forms the steering wheel, this being connected by the uprights 2 with the 5 toothed ring 3 which is rotatable in a guide.

' I consisting of two members 4 and 5 maintained by the bolts 6, one of the said members, 5, being secured by an angle bracket 7 to the vehicle body 8.

The said guide may be entirely circular or may consist only of a certain number of sectors spaced around the toothed'ring '3 7 whereby the latter will be tained and centered.

To facilitate the rotation of the said toothed ring, the members at and 5 comprise grooves containing the balls 9; suitable rollers might be employed forthe same purpose.

properly mainand said pinion engages the gearwheel 3. In this manner the vehicle can be steered as usual by meansof the wheel'l.

It has been supposed in the drawings that the steering gear 11 is situated below and to A. pinion 10 is keyed to the shaft of the endless screwv of the usual steering gear ll,

the 0fIthe,steering wheel, but it 'is ob 1 I vious that the; said steering gear maybe placedjin any other suitable position ac;

cording to the, arrangement ofzthe several parts of the vehicle. V

U The pinion 10 may be, optionally enclosed in a casing which can be screwed for instance to the member 5.

Having thus described my apparatus,

what I claim as new therein, andmy own invention is zv I I 1 1. In a steering devlce for motor vehicles 2. In a steerlng device for motor vehicles may place his I provided with pivoted vehicle Wheels, the combination of a steering wheel and means connecting the saidsteeringwheel with the provided withpivoted vehicle'wheels, the

combination of a steering wheel and means connecting the; said steering wheel with the controlling mechanism of said pivoted'vehicle wheels,'said steering wheel consisting of a large ring, without arms, so disposed that the driver ofthe vehiclemay place his legs through the said ring, a guiding ring for the said steering wheel,-means rigidly connecting the said guiding ring with saidsteering wheel, and means guiding the said ring upon the vehicle in such manner that the ring will be rotatable.

3. In a steeringdevice for motor'vehicles provided with pivoted vehicle Wheels, the

combination ofa steering wheel and means connecting the said-steering wheel with the controlling mechanism .of said pivoted vehicle wheels, saidsteering wheel consisting of a largering, without arms, so disposed that the driver of the vehicle may'place his legs through the said ring, a guiding ring for the said steering wheel, saidring being provided with gear teeth, means rigidly connecting thesaid guiding ringwith the said I steering wheel, means guidingthe said ring upon the vehicle in such manner thatthe ring will be rotatable, a controlling shaft in the longitudinal, position on said vehicle and connectedwith the steeringmeohanism,

and a pinion mounted on said shaft, said pinion coacting with the toothed portion-of the said ring. I

4. In a steering device for motor vehicles;

iio f provided with pivoted vehicle wheels, the

combination of a-steeringwhee1 and means co'iinectiiigihe said steering Wheel withth'e place his legs through the said ringya guid- 111g 'ringvfof the said steering-ivheel, up-

' rights" rigidly connecting 'the said guiding ring" with aid steering Wheel, and ball or roller bearings forn'iin'g a 'circiilar guiding v device for the said Ting-upon the vehicle;

155111 'aef-e'ering device for motor vehicles provided with pivoted Vehicle Wheels, the

combination of;a"'steerii1g Wheel and means connecting the said Steering Wheel With the controlling mechanism of the said pivoted I vehiclewheels, said Steeringwvheel consisting voi a large ring, Without ,arn1s, so v disposed that the driver of the vehicle may place his legs through the Said'ring, a guidrig-hts rigidly connecting i-he said guiding ring With said Steering W1181,'l11d ball or roll-e1" hearings which constitute-a circular guide consisting of ajiplurahty of'se'ctoirs afiixed my signatiirej 7 (CHARLES 'SCHA'EFFER.

111g .ring for the said steering Wheel, LIP- spaced upon the pei'iph-ieryo f "the said ring. In testimony whereof; l have hereunto 

